DPS subpoenas two Twitter accounts over alleged threats

Two Twitter users who posted messages criticizing Texas Republican leaders for recently passed abortion restrictions have been subpoenaed by the Department of Public Safety in the investigation of a “terroristic threat.”

The subpoena (below), acquired by the San Antonio Express-News, was sent to Twitter from DPS Agent Jason McMurray of Tyler on July 25. The subpoena directs Twitter to disclose names, emails and addresses, activation date, payment information, email and IP addresses used by the accounts @deniseromano and @prisonforbush on July 17-19. A call to McMurray was not immediately returned.

A July 26 email from Twitter’s legal team to @prisonforbush (below) acquired by the Express-News indicates the subpoena has been received by Twitter and will be filled by August 2 unless the users appeal.

Each user’s tweets from those dates have been reviewed by the Express-News.

The account @prisonforbush sent it’s first tweet in more than a year on July 18, which is the day Gov. Rick Perry signed into law some of the countries tightest abortion restrictions. The account sent about 40 tweets that day and none July 17 or July 19. Of the 40 tweets, many of which were vulgar, five mentioned Texas Republican leaders including Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and former President George W. Bush. The account @deniseromano had a large volume of tweets on all three days. Below is screenshot of tweets sent July 18.

A screenshot shows potential tweets DPS is interested in (Photo by Kolten Parker)